BZE has 20 volunteer
engineers plus numerous volunteer supporters (presenters, office, IT, design):
“Our goal is to facilitate the implementation of the social changes and
technologies that will reduce the impacts of climate change and give our
society and global ecosystems a chance of surviving into the future.”

BZE launched the
ZCA2020 Plan in 2010 in conjunction with the University of Melbourne Energy Institute.
It has received wide scientific, academic and business support and some
tripartisan commendation (Bob Carr, Malcolm Turnbull, Greens Senator Scott Ludlam).

Google BZE for free
download of the ZCA2020 Report or the much shorter ZCA2020 Synopsis. You can
buy hard copies of the ZCA2020 Report from the University of Melbourne Energy
Institute.

BZE is currently
working on further Reports in relation to Transport, Agriculture and Land Use, Buildings
and Industry.

Key features of the ZCA2020
Plan

A. Why Australia must
get to zero CO2 emissions by 2020.

Professor Hans JoachimSchellnhuber CBE (Potsdam Institute,
Germany) says that for a 67% chance of avoiding a disastrous 2 degree C
temperature rise (EU policy), the world must cease carbon dioxide (CO2)
emissions by 2050 (not good odds: would you board a plane that had a 33% chance
of crashing?). If we accept that “all men are created equal” then we must have
equal shares in polluting the atmosphere until 2050. This means that high
annual per capita CO2 polluters such as the US and Australia must
cease by 2020 whereas India and Burkina Faso can actually increase CO2 pollution
before finally ceasing in 2050.

2. CST with molten salts energy
storage involves a Power Tower surrounded by a field of mirrors
(heliostats) that concentrate the solar radiation at the top of the Power Tower
where it heats molten salts (potassium and sodium nitrate, melting point 220C)
from a “cold” tank (290C) to 565C, this heated solution being stored in a “hot”
tank. The heat is used to generate steam which drives a turbine and thence generates
electricity. Molten salts storage means that the system can operate 24/7. Such
systems are already supplying commercial power in the US and Spain. Nineteen (19) 220MW (million
watt) modules will form each of twelve (12)3,500 MW solar regions (42,000 MW capacity in total; capacity factor
75%)

3. Wind turbines would
be used in 23 regions for a total of 6,400 turbines (28,000 MW; capacity factor
30%).

4. High voltage direct
current (HVDC) and high voltage alternating current (HVAC) links would make
up an efficient nationalgrid.

5. Extensive modeling
based on real meteorological data shows that in this system solar energy would
supplement available wind energy to achieve required power. Biomass and hydrolelectric
backup would be available for those rare occasions of low wind and low
sunshine.

6. $370 billion cost over 10
years. Australia
has the steel, concrete and labor resources to enable implementation and there
would be 40,000 ongoing new jobs in maintenance and operations of the system
(peak construction labor force 75,000).

7. Increased energy
efficiency (e.g. in transport, buildings, heating and cooling) is a key
part of the scheme. Indeed the power capacity would increase by 40% (from 50,000
MW now to 70,000 MW under ZCA2020) to enable electrified transport.

NB. This is just the
beginning. Top scientists say that we must urgently reduce atmospheric
CO2 concentration from the current 392 parts per million (ppm) to
300 ppm for a safe planet for all peoples and all species (e.g. by biochar
production,re-afforestation and ceasing
livestock GHG pollution) (Google 300.org).